Chandigarh, December 18
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Capt Amarinder Singh, today split the state Election Committee into four groups to shortlist aspirants for the party ticket. The groups have been formed Parliament
constituency-wise.

Sonia to decide on
kin’s nominationPatiala, December 18
The candidature of Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh’s brother as well as relatives of other senior party leaders is likely to be decided at the highest level with the PPCC chief reiterating that relatives of senior leaders should not be given ticket in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab.

Chandigarh, December 18
It was the turn of the Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib SAD-BJP to participate in a district-level review meeting at the residence of Mr Parkash Singh Badal here today.

Pain is writ large on the face of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as he is helped to hold a walker after a ‘sangat darshan’ programme at his residence in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
— Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

SGPC to propagate religion, fight social
evilsChandigarh, December 18
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has for once decided to focus on preaching and propagating the Sikh religion making full use of the print and electronic media.

Sikh clergy toeing govt line: ex-JathedarAmritsar, December 18
A former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, yesterday said religion should be separated from politics if the Panthic organisations wanted to continue with ‘dirty politics’.

Punjab landholdings mired in
litigationAmritsar, December 18
Even as the Punjab Government is selling prime land to fill its coffers, many of its premier landholdings are mired in lengthy litigation, making the land inaccessible for use or for selling.

RSS holds protest marchSangrur, December 18
A large number of members of the RSS, the Bajrang Dal and other allied organisations under the leadership of Mr Rameshwar Dass, district sangh chalak of the RSS, today took out a protest march in the town to protest against the atrocities being committed on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Army aspirants fall prey to toutsBathinda, December 18Officials organising an Army recruitment rally at the local Government Rajindra College were surprised to see some youths bearing red nail polish on their fingers and others wearing handkerchiefs of a particular colour around their wrists.

POTO will ‘dilute’
Fundamental RightsBathinda, December 18
The local People’s Law Forum said many of the Fundamental Rights conferred by the Constitution would become meaningless if POTO became an Act in its present form.

PUDA to beautify Kamara
BaghChandigarh, December 18
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority is embarking upon the beautification and landscaping in and around the historic Kamara Bagh in the erstwhile princely state of Kapurthala.

Army holds
medical campAbohar, December 18
More than 1000 patients were examined at a free medical camp organised by a Rifles unit of the Army at the border village,
Bakainwala, today.

Bail for 125
undertrialsSangrur, December 18
During an inspection of Sangrur jail and Barnala sub-jail, the Inspecting Judge for Sangrur district, Mr Justice Nirmal Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, today ordered the release of all those undertrials who had been arrested by the police for having poppy husk up to 20 kg or opium up to 500 grams.

Pop not real music, says
Surinder KaurAmritsar, December 18
“Music has become commercialised and is now a source of business. Today’s pop music is not music in the real sense but corrupts the mind of our youth”.

MC workers’ rallyBathinda, December 18
Members of the Municipal Employees Union and the Municipal Sweepers Union today held a dharna and a rally at the district headquarters.

Trader’s body foundPhillaur, December 18
A trader from Hoshiarpur, identified as Sandeep Vohra (28), was found dead in Sutlej Classic Hotel here this morning.

26.25 cr for overbridgeJalandhar, December 18
The sanctioning of Rs 26.25 crore by the Centre for the replacement of the Railway underbridge, popularly called “Domoria pul”, which used to get submerged during rains virtually dividing the city into two, has generated a ray of hope among about 10 lakh residents of the city their long-cherished dream of a new overbridge will finally become a reality soon.

6 promoted to rank of IGChandigarh, December 18
The Punjab Government today ordered the promotion of six officers to the rank of Inspector-General of Police.

Voter cards
from Dec 21Bathinda, December 18
Ms Kanwalpreet Brar, SDM and Registration Officer, Gidderbaha, in a press note issued here today said the photography for voter ID card would be done from December 21 to December 29 in Gidderbaha.

Ministerial staff to hold dharnasChandigarh, December 18
The Punjab State Ministerial Service Union has decided to organisations and dharnas in the constituencies of all Ministers by turn in Punjab.

4 FCI officers booked for forgerySangrur, December 18
The police has booked four assistant mangers of Food Corporation of India — Harihar Singh, Sita Ram, Khushhali Ram and Bhagwan Dass (posted in the local FCI depot in early 1990s) and Teja Singh, president of the FCI Cooperative Labour and Construction Society here (along with members of the society), in a case of cheating and forgery.

Man booked for killing 18-day-old daughterAmritsar, December 18
An 18-day-old girl was allegedly murdered by her father yesterday. The girl was poisoned by her father, Dilbagh Singh, and her paternal grandfather, Dhian Singh, according to a complaint lodged at Chabal police station by the baby’s mother, Bajbeer Kaur, and her maternal grandmother, both residents of
Basarke.

Relatives murder orphaned child
Hoshiarpur, December 18
A one-and-a-half year old orphaned male child was allegedly murdered at the house of his maternal grand-parents on the Fatehgarh road in the town last night.

New system to recruit
teachersBathinda, December 18
Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, while claiming that there was no “saffronisation” of education, said the state government will oppose any move to alter history by making changes in textbooks.